This is my contribution to the Halloween Contest 2020 -- and for once, I managed to keep it short. Please remember to vote at the end and thanks for taking the time to read.
A special thanks goes to Ravey19 for editing this story.
-------------------------------
Copyright (c) 2020 Ada Stuart, All Rights Reserved.
This work may not be published whether for fee or free without this copyright.
-------------------------------
***
"Hey, Roberts! Your Catwoman's in trouble again," Mason heard his Captain call from the other side of the fire department.
"Not again," Mason said and looked at his boss. "Send someone else."
"Not a chance. This one's all yours. But you can take the rookie."
"Cool. I'm ready," the young fire recruit beside Mason said enthusiastically.
"All right. What's Katie done this time?" Mason asked.
"She's stuck at the top of that tree that you like."
"What the fuck," Mason cursed. "I've told her to never climb that rotten tree."
"Maybe this time you should do more than just talk to her," the Captain said and laughed heartily.
"It won't help," Mason said.
"You won't know unless you try."
The grin on his Captain's face told Mason clearly that there was so sense in arguing.
***
Soon after they were in the van heading for an address Mason was all too familiar with.
"This is one of your regulars?" Jacob, the recruit, asked.
"You can say that. It's the third time in the last month."
"Who are we saving? The woman or the cat?"
"Both, most likely. That damn cat likes to climb the tallest tree and gets stuck every time."
"Why don't she lock it up?"
"Or put a chain on it? You wish. I've said it so many times I've lost count. And it's not even her cat. It's the old lady next door to Katie who owns the damn thing."
"Oh, so the damsel in distress is a cat lover?"
"Yes. And Katie's terrified of heights."
"What?"
"Don't be surprised when I try to make her angry. It's the only way to prevent her from panicking."
"Blimey. She should have stayed on the ground."
"Tell me about it. She's too damn stubborn for her own good."
"Sounds like you know her well."
"Yeah. Katie's my sister's best friend. And my sister will kill me if Katie gets injured. Me, on the other hand..."
The rookie just glanced at him, but luckily he managed to stifle his laughter.
Mason felt pissed off already. If only Katie could learn to ignore the damn cat, but she seemed determined to risk her neck. Maybe he should definitely start approaching the issue from another angle. Like the Captain had suggested. But what on Earth could prevent the woman from doing something stupid? A chain saw to that tree was the clear number one on his options list.
Still, the cat woman would need to be dealt with. He was fed up with giving her advice she refused to follow.
***
"What the hell?" Katie heard a familiar voice say beneath the tree she was clinging to for dear life.
Quickly she glanced down to check if Mason was really there or if it was just a bad dream. Immediately she regretted it as she saw how far she was from the ground. She swallowed and held tighter to the branch. Never look down, she reminded herself.
Still, that tall, dark-haired figure of Mason was easily recognisable. Her best friend's older brother had always had an effect on her. Normally, his tall, handsome features were enough to make her legs feel like they were made of jelly, and she became tongue-tied and shy.
She had learnt to never look him in the eye, but instead focus on a point over his shoulder. Otherwise, she would never come across as an intelligent adult when he was around. She should be used to him by now. After having lived on the same street for the last twenty years or so.
These days he had moved a bit further away after buying his own house. She was saving up to do the same thing, and with a new job, she had her target in sight.
"Hello, Mason," Katie said. "Does no-one else work at the fire station these days?"
"The rest of them will just wait until you fall down like rotten fruit," Mason said nonchalantly.
"Ugh, don't remind me right now," Katie said as she tightened her grip on the branch.
Feeling how her long, light brunette hair was caught in between, Katie forced her fingers to let go a little so she didn't rip out her hair.
"Climbing trees while wearing nothing but a babydoll? That's new even for you, Katie," Mason said and laughed.
"What?"
"At least you're wearing panties."
"This is a skirt, not a babydoll, you ignorant jerk," Katie flung at Mason.
"You could at least have changed to pants before you started climbing."
"I thought it would be quick and easy," Katie blustered.
Mason laughed heartily. "You don't know the definition of quick and easy, doll. And here I thought you were 24 and not 4 years old."
Then he turned to the young man beside him.
"Quit gawking, Jacob. Go and get that ladder over there. She enjoys flaunting her assets so don't encourage her."
"Yes, boss," the young man said.
"I do not flaunt myself," Katie said, feeling annoyed.
"Right now you are. Maybe I should leave you up there so the rest of the neighbourhood can have a laugh and a look."
"Don't you dare, Mason Roberts! Get me down from here at once."
"Only if you promise never to climb that tree again."
"It's not my fault the branch broke."
"Perhaps you're too heavy?"
"I'm not! Don't be such a moron, Mason."
Katie felt like fuming. She worked hard to keep her body fit and slim. She was definitely not fat as he suggested. He seemed to take great pleasure in teasing her. Always had been in all the years she'd known him. He was a few years older than her and about half a metre taller.